Bitstock



W. L. KERN.

BITSTOCK.' APPLICATION FILED mm. 2a, 1918.

Patented May 25, 1920.

ATTOFI N EY WITNESSES up so much space.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM L. KERN, 0F ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA.

BITSTOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Application filed March 28, 1918. Serial No. 225,286.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. KERN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alameda, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bitstocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to woodworking tools, and more especially to bit stocks having a U-crank; and the object of the same is to provide means for taking the crank apart so that the device may be more readily stored away or packed in the tool kit of the average carpenter. It is well known that a bit stock is the most troublesome tool the carpenter to carry in his kit, and this applies whether it is small or large, and, I might say whatever its type. The reason doubtless is because there must he a crank somewhere in its length in order to give the user power, and it is the crank which takes Thepresent invention is intended and designed to permit this crank to be taken apart so that the respective parts may more easily be stored. Details are brought out below, and attention is called to the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bit stock partly in section, involving my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a perspective detail showing the tongue-and-groove connection between elements as referred to below.

I lay no claim to novelt in the construction of the bit stock itself. It has a U-shaped crank at its mid-length broadly designated by the numeral 1, indicating the upper arm carrying the knob 2, the numeral 3 indicating the lower arm and carrying the chuck 1, and the numeral 5 indicating the bar connecting said arms and surrounded by the rotary handle 6. This intermediate part by my invention I propose to divide as indicated where Fig. 1 is in section. In other words, the inner end of the upper arm is turned down as usual at 7 and provided with a groove 8 across its extremity. The upper end of the portion 5 after passing through the handle 6 is provided with a tongue 9 across its extremity, the tongue of course being intended to fit the groove. A collar 10 is fastened upon the upper end of the bar 5 by any suitable means such as a pin 11, and thiscollar is of sufficient length to embrace quite a portion of the downturned end 7 as seen in Fig. 1. Fastening means in the collar are provided, herein shown in the shape of a set screw 12 adapted to enter a socket 13 in the lower end 7 of the upper arm 1.

With this construction, when the parts have been assembled as seen in Fig. 1, the bit stock may be used as ordinarily employed, and the workman will hardly notice the difference. lVhen now he comes to store this device in his tool box, he has but to loosen the fastening device which in the present instance is a set screw 12, and then he can lift the upper arm 1 entirely out of the collar 10 and pack the parts in his tool kit with ease. I reserve the widest latitude with respect to the fastening device, because it may be any that will answer the purpose. Also the tongue 9 and groove 8 are typical of any angularity which may be given the meeting ends of the members 7 and 5 where they come together within the collar 10, the purpose obviously being to strengthen the connection so that one part may not rotate independently of the other. The fastening device is only to hold the parts thus connected. I do not wish to be limited to the application of this idea to a bit stock of the type shown, and in fact it might be applied to many other tools which are so cumbersome or awkward that they cannot well be stored away.

What is claimed as new is In a bit stock, the combination of a crank provided with a rotatable grip and made in two parts, the joint being exterior to said grip, a collar on said crank serving to retain said grip and also serving to provide means for holding the separate portions of said crank together, means for securing said crank against axial motion on either crank part and the crank ends abutting each other and having means for preventing rotation.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. KERN. Witnesses R. B. MYERS, S. T. (3mm. 

